ShakeOut – Are you up for an earthquake drill?

How many earthquakes do we have in a year?

The USGS reports 22,289 earthquakes worldwide in 2011.

Washington and Southern California each have 30+ earthquakes per day. Do you know what experts say you should do to be prepared for one? The ShakeOut website gives the latest duck and cover recommendations and lists earthquake drills by region. October 18th is the day for Washington, California, Nevada, and British Columbia. The Central US has their drill in February, Utah in April. I picked this picture instead of a modern one because our house survived this. There is some evidence of subsidence that I believe was from this earthquake. Think you know what to do in an earthquake? You have probably heard of these techniques…

What NOT to do:

DO NOT get in a doorway! An early earthquake photo is a collapsed adobe home with the door frame as the only standing part. From this came our belief that a doorway is the safest place to be during an earthquake. In modern houses and buildings, doorways are no safer, and they do not protect you from flying or falling objects. Get under a table instead!

DO NOT run outside! Trying to run in an earthquake is dangerous, as the ground is moving and you can easily fall or be injured by debris or glass. Running outside is especially dangerous, as glass, bricks, or other building components may be falling. You are much safer to stay inside and get under a table.

DO NOT believe the so-called “triangle of life”! In recent years, an e-mail has circulated which has recommends potentially life threatening actions , and the source has been discredited by leading experts. I remember learning about this in a disaster drill when I worked at the clinic, here is a link about it: The Triangle of Life. One problem with this one is that there is far more danger from shattering glass and flying objects than from collapsing exterior walls.